Collapsible can



A. C-..G'UHL. CULLAPSIBLE CAN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I'I, 1920.

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WITNESSES A. c. GUHL.

coLLAPsIBLE CAN.. APPLICATION FILED MARIN, I920- v Patented Apr. .19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. INVENTOR AUGUST c. Gunn, or cirrcaeo, iLLINors.

COLLAPSIBLE CAN.

Application filed vIllarcli 17', 1920. Serial No.V 366,541.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST C. GUHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Cans, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

rl`he purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of a collapsible Vcan or the like, the particular form and certain specific feature of the invention being adapted for a portable watering can. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and cated in the claims.

In the drawings: Y y

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section cfa watering can embodyingthis invention.

Fig. 2 is a side Figs. 1 and 2 showing the can extended in form for service. Y

Fig. 3 is a side view of the canpartly collapsed, showing the method of folding of the struts in collapse. Y

Fig. is a sectional view of the can collapsed into the base memberl and with the casing reversed as a cover and means for carrying the .collapsed can.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the .carrying handle.

Fig. 6 .is a joint in the strut structure.

Fig. 7 is a detail section at the line, 7-7,

on Fig. 2. p

Fig. S is a detail Yperspective view of a ortion of the top ring showing means of attaching the spent stay.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of said stay. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of the spout terminal.

In-the structureshownin the drawings, the collapsible can comprisesa rigid outer member', 1, which isof cup form adapted to constitute a receptacle into whichthe revy mainder of the can structure may be collapsed. 2 is a top rigid memberwhich is a ring for encompassing and securingr the' upper end of the collapsible fabric member, 4. 3 is an intermediate ring, also adapted to encompass, and which may be secured to, the fabric member lower ends of the latter. 'Ihe rigid bottom cup form member, 1, is connected to .the rings, 2 and 3, by two sets of collapsible described, as indielevation of the same, both detail perspective 4view of a intermediate the upper and struts, 5 and 6. The struts of the series, 5, i

are pivoted at their lower ends to the upper margin of the cup member, 1, and at the upper end to the lower margin of the intermediate ring, 3. The struts, 6, are pivoted at their lower ends to the upper margin'of the ring, 3, and their upper ends to the lower margin of the ring, 2. Preferably the two series of struts, 5 and 6, are equal in number and a strut of each series is alined vertically witlia strut of the other series at the extended position.,V Each of the two struts in alinement meeting at the middle ring, 3, is extended beyond its pivot to that ring toward the `other strut, the extensions, 52V

and 6a, lapping by each other as seen in Fig.

6, and each having a notch, 5K6", rendering the extensions hooked in form, these notches Y Y 75 which is mountedl on the ring, 3, inrposif facing each other for engaging a stop, 12,

tion for such engagement, and. for stopping the two struts at alined position. It will beobserved, however, that the two extensions, 5a and 6a, of the struts would stop against tion; but in addition tothe interposed stop forv preventing this, the two extensions are i adapted in shape-to prevent it, being eachy formed with an angular recess at one side to receive the projection of the other strut, said..

recesses being indicated at 5c and 6, respectively. In order to render the fabric-extending structure consisting ofthese struts spring, 13, secured on the inner end of theVVV stem of the stop, by means of a washer, 14, over which the end of the stop is riveted down as shown at 15. the shoulder is slightly beveled or rounded, as seen at 12b, to facilitate the entrance under or Vbehind it of vthe entering edge of the eX-` tensions, 5 and 6a, that is, so that these ex?` tensions wedge their' way into their 'place under or behind the shoulder, and are thereby held tight by the retractive action of the spring, 13. In order that the struts, 5 and 6, may be certainly guided so as to enter behind the shoulder, as

The outer corner ofthey swing up from` each other at said alined position without,v the interposed stop, while without that stop, c although but for the interposed stop either.V might force the other past the alined posi- Y the dotted lines,

shown in F ig. 6, by being cut from a flat` blank, as may be understood from said Fig,

6, the blank being split at 12, and folded at 12y and 12W, to Vforrntwo oppositely-projecting lugs or lianges, 12m and 12, one projecting upward and the other their ends as seen at 12p, so that in the early part of themovement of the strut from-horiozontal or collapsed position toward erect position, their lateralledges enter under or behind these lues 12In and 12n andare thereb D by guided surely to the shoulders, 12a.

Tht cup-shaped bottom receptacle mem# "ber,`1, is'made with a concentric depression in its bottom web forming a vertical uannular shoulder, 1d', the `diameter ofthe depression andof this annular shoulder being the diameter of the flexible fabric tube mamber, 4t; andsaid tube member is secured at its lower end to the bottom member, 1, by having' said lower end nished witlia hem, et, in which there is inolosed la rigidring, 9, whose diameter is such, taking into account the thick ness of the'fabric of the tube, 4, thatv the ring-inclosing hemmed endof thetube can be entered intothe depression defined vby the shoulder, 1d, only after the bottom member,

1, `has been expanded to such vextent as it i may be by heating it to a temperature not highenough to injure the fabric of the tube, 4c. Said hemmed ring-inclosi'ng end being thus entered in the heat-expanded bottom member, 1, upon cooling of the latter the lower end of the tube member`,4, is gripped and held securely,and undetachably under the ordinary conditions of use of the device.

The struts, V5 and 6, are longitudinally curved approximately in conformity to the curvature of the encompassing wall,`1a, of the cup-shaped bottom receptacle member, 1, so that at that position they extendl in curved position in theannular space, 1", between said outer encompassing wall, 1, and the flexible fabric tube member, 4, which when collapsedV normally folds or buckles inward, leaving said annular space available l for the folded struts, From the position of the pivots of the struts ofthe two series, 5 and 6, at the lower and upper edges respectively, of the ring, 3, it will be seen that the two series will fold" one above the other in collapsed position. In order to facilitate the folding of the struts inthe cupformed bottom receptacle member, 1, their pivotal connections to the said `bottom receptacle member, 1, and tothe upper ring, 2, is madeV through intermediate short link members, 5X, 6X, which are pivoted respectively, to the upper edgesof the cup-shaped bottom member and the lower1 edge ofthe ring, 2, for' swinging radially with respect to said receptacle member,

downward, and both flexed outward at the struts necessary for collapse. From this Y `construction it results that when the struts are collapsed into the cup-shaped bottom V1, they can each roll slightly as the links, 5X and 6X,"in turn at their pivotal connection with the member, 1, and the ring, 2, thus permitting the struts to fall a little more deeply into the cupshaped bottom member, 1. p A spout, A7, is made of fabric and secured to the side of the flexible tubular fabric member, 4registering with an aperture, 4", in said tubular member, the securement beingefl'ected by stitching, with a stay, 7a, in a well understood manner. l The discharge `end of the spout, 7, is fitted with a metalferrule, 7b, interiorly tapered for securement by friction of thetapered terminal of a discharge nozzle or head of any desired form. This metal. ferrule, 7b, serves as the means of at` tachingl the stay loop, .8, for holding the outer end of the spout in discharge position, the stay bein provided with an eye, 8, for engaging theV Aerrule, and beingpivoted at the lopposite end to the ring, 2,'in amanner permitting it to fold into the ring at the collapsed position ofthe parts, as seen at 2,-which' is a duplex bayonet slot with whose two projections the eyes, 8b, of the stay loop, 8, snap into engagement, each arm ofthe loop having'a shoulder, 8C, which stops against the'outer side of the ringat spout-supporting position.

'Thedevice is fitted detachable handlemember, consisting of flexible cable or rope, 16, having at its opposite ends clips,16a,' for disengageably attaching it to the upper "ring, 2. For the purpose of such attachment, said ring has struck outwardlyffrom it two stapleiform loops, 2b, 2b, in diametrically opposite positions, and the clips, 161,'are each formed from sheet metal blanks adapted to be fold-- ed `to form an eye, 16", for gripping the -cable,16, and with a flat tongue, 16C, adapt- For disengagement of the clip from the staple, there is secured upon the tongue, 16C, a flat spring, 17, secured by a rivet, 1,7, and having the end beyond the rivet folded down at 17C, past the end of the clip, so that-it is stayed at two points with respect to the clip and cannot turn thereon, the opposite end Vhaving a flexure, 17d', forming a nose up-holding the intermediate portion of the spring from the face of the lug, 16C, for a space equal to the thickness and width of the staple, so that the lugs, 16, being entered into the staplespring, -17 will ,snap down over the staple and latch it against accidental disengagement, A i

10 is a case for the collapsible can adapted to be inserted under the staples, 2b. preventing accidental with aliexible andV beads so that the member, 1,- being insert# v ed into the casing, the bosses may enter past the higher end of the beads, and be engaged thereunder upon rotating the casing with respect ends of said spirally-inclinedrmeans being at such distance from the bottom of the casing that rotation as described, clamps the bottom member, 1, tightly against the bottom of the casing. The height of the wall, 10, is adapted to permit the casing* to be used as a cover' for the bottom'recep# tacle member, l, when the other parts of the can yare collapsed thereinto, the casing being for that purpose inverted 'and-'its' beads, 10b, engaged with "the bosses, ,1e, and the parts screwed together in the4 same manner as above (now top) of the casing clamps down upon the most 'upwardly-protruding portion or content of the base receptacle member, 1. When the casing is thus applied as aY cover tothe collapsed can,the handle member, `16", which is disengaged from the ring, 2, preparatory to collapsing the can, is designed to be engaged with the casing, `whichfor that purpose is providedwith exterior sta,- les, lesv struck out frompthe ring, 2, .for the engagement of the handle grip, and coperating with said grips in the same manner.

It will be understood Vfrom the foregoing description that in collapsing the can structure, swinging the struts over into horizontal position, the ring,-2, is rotated and the ring, 3, is also rotated but substantially only half as much, and that in this process the flexible fabric tube member-,4, '.will be twisted, and thereby contracted radially as it is collapsed. The contraction of the tube, 4, in this process vaffords room for accommodating the flexible fabric spout member, 7, which may be tucked inside the struts, 5, and wrapped around the tube member,

4, as it isk being twisted and collapsed.

ThereV is preferably provided a tilting handle, 20, adapted to be detachably attached to the casing, 10, which for that purpose has bayonet slot apertures, 10K, into which the clips, 20a, 'which terminates the flexible handle, 20,' may be engaged, and from which they may be readily disengaged 1, to adof two or? to the member, 1; the lower described, until the bottom` 10"', corresponding in form to the sta-- upon dropping the handles and spreading apart the-ends.'

vFor preventing overflow of the can in pouring from the spout,

retaining'4 key ring, 9, a half-circle flange or half-top 4, at the side toward the spout.

I claim 1. Inl a collapsible can :and the like, in

the hemmed-ring inclosing end of the fabric member thereinto; whereby the hemmed fabric member may be permanently secured to thebottom member by expanding the latter by heatand shrinking it out ofthe ringinclosing h em. y

2.7In the construction defined in claim 1, the rigid bottom member having Va cup-like depressionin its bottom web producing an annular platform or shoulder in said bottom member around and'outside of the tubular fabric member,- for accommodatingcollapsi` plestrut members in said rigid bottom memer. Y

3. In a collapsible can and the like, a rigid bottom memberl of cup form; a flexible fabric member of tube Vform'having its lower end secured tothe bottomy web of said bottom member ata circle spaced concentrically inward Vfrom the outer wall of the cupform-bottom member; a rigid ring secured to the upper end of the fabric tube; an intermediate ring encompassing the tube intermediate its ends, and two sets of struts each distributed circumferentially aboutthe tube, one set pivoted at the lower end to the wall ofthe cup-form bottom member, and at the upperendvto the intermediate ring, and the other set vpivoted at theA lower ends to the intermediate ring andy at the upper ends to the top ring; the struts being longitudinally curved outward in approximate conformity to the circular form of the encompassing` wall of the cup-formed bottom member; whereby said struts are adapted to fold down into the annular space between eoaid wall and the flexible fabric tube mem-VV 4. In a collapsible can and the like, a rigid base` member; a flexible fabric member secured at the bottom to the base member; a. ring secured to the upper end of the fabric member; anintermediate ring encompassing the fabric member intermediate the top and bottom ;V two sets of struts outside'the fabric member, one set pivoted'at the lower the fabric member, 4, has at the top extending above the'.

endtto the bottom member, and at the upper I top ring, the ends of the struts of both sets which are pivoted to the intermediate ring being formed with lateral notches rendering them hooked, and means on the intermediate ring for engaging the hooked ends of the studs asthe latter turn ontheir pivots tov ward their erect position.`

' position of the struts, the pivots of the two alined struts of the intermediate rings being spaced apart vertically,

5. In the structure defined in claim l,

the two series of struts being positioned with a strut of one series substantially alined with a strut of the other` series at erected position of the struts, the pivots of the two alined struts on the intermediate ring being spaced apart vertically, the hookforming notches of the struts being at the ends of-tliestruts beyond their saidpivots respectively, said ends lapping by each other and being erect position. a a Y `6. In thestructure defined in claim 4:,

the two series of struts being positioned with a a strut of one seriessubstantially alined with a strut of `the otherfseries aterected the ends of the struts beyond their` pivots to the intermediate ring lapping by each other at erecty position, and the hook-forming notches being in said lapping end portionsand facing each other at the erect and lapped position of the struts; 4whereby means 4is between `said lapped ends and serves as a stop for stopping them at erect position. i i v A 7. In the structure defined in claim 4, foregoing, the two series of struts being positioned with astrut of one series substantially aliiied with a strut of the other series at erected position of `the struts, the pivots of the two alined struts on theintei# mediate ring beingspaced apart vertically the struts beyond theirpivots to v the ends of theintermediate ring lapping by each other between their said respective pivots, and al stop mounted in said ring for `encounter of.

the said lapping ends, said stop having shoulders which overhang the lapped and stopped ends of the struts for crowding them closely against the ring at their erect position.

8. Inthe structure defined in claim 4 foregoing, the two series of struts being posi` one series substan.

d ring stopped against each other, at,`

the hook engaging" position of the strut, the pivots' the struts beyondtheir pivots .to the in-- a spring acting on Vsaid stop to retract the said shoulder against said lapped ends. e

9. In the structure dened in` claim ,4j

foregoing, the two series of struts being positionedwtha strut of one series substan-l tially alined with a strutot the other series at lerected position of the struts, -thepivots of the two alined struts Aon the intermediate being spaced apart vertically,gthe ends ofthe termediatefring lapping` by eachother between their said respective pivots, and a stop mounted in said ring for encounter of said ,lappingv ends,r`said stop having upwardlyand downwardlyfprojecting lugs behind'which said ends enterin turning toward erect position.

10. In the structure del-ined claim 4;,

foregoingVthe: two. seriesof strutsbeing positioned with astrut of oneseries substantially alined with afstrutof the other series at erected position of the struts, thei pivots of thetwo alined struts on the intermediate ringbeing spaced apartvertically,tlie ends of the strutsbeyondltheir pivots to the intermediate ring lapping by jeach othervbe' tween their said respective pivots; a stop mounted` in said ring Vfor, encounter of said lapping ends, saidstopmhaving an upwardly and which said ends respectively Yenter injturning toward erect position, and a spring `acting on said stop to retract said lugs against the lappedends. Y

,1l. vIn. Va collapsible., can, in combination with rigid top and bottominembers, a ilexi-V ble fabric member which connects said rigid struts beyond their pivots 4to ,the `in-` a downwardly.. projecting, lug VbehindUJ members,`and struts `forholding the ieXible members` extended; a flexible handle vand p ivotingclips forengaging it with the top rigid member, saidtop memberhaving eir-` teriorlyfprojecting'staple loops struck out from it `for entrance circumferentiallyof the.

can, the clips having tongues extendingfor entrance c ircumferentially into said staple loops, and retaining againstlescape. Y l

12. lIn combination with a `collapsible can and the like, which .comprises a rigid Vbase member adapted to constitute a receptacle, a'rigid top member, a flexible fabric member which connects said rigid top and bottom members, and strut structures connecting the two rigid members, dimensioned for holding the flexible member eXtended, said strut structure being adapted to collapse with the flexible member into the receptacle 'base member; a case forsaid collapsible can in the form of an open-toppedvessel diametered for receiving the base receptacle and` havingV interiorly-struck spirally-extending beads, the base receptacle having eXteriorlyprojecting bosses adaptedto engage with e springs secured to the Y clip tongues having reexed ends for snapf` pin` over the` staples to retain the clipsV VY i iis

said spiral beads, said beads and bosses being relatively positioned for securing the case onto the bottom of the base receptacle for carrying the case with the collapsible can when the latter is extended, or on top of the base receptacle for covering the base and the parts collapsed therein.

13. In a collapsible can, in combination with rigid top and bottom members, a ilexible fabric member which connects said rigid member, and struts for holding the flexible members extended, said fabric member having a pouring spout leading from its lower `art, and having at the top a partial closure flange or web extended from the sidewalls inward toward the middle at the side of the.

'AUGUST C. GrUHL. 

